by ASGHAR VASANWALA
Shabnam nahiN kehta, oose Sho’la nahiN kehta
Voh koi bhi ho, meiN oose tujh-sa nahiN kehta
Is Dar se ke mujhe tu shifa-yaab na kar de
Qatil tujhe kehta huN, Masiha nahiN kehta
Sajti hai KHyaloN meiN sada koi rafaqat
Tanha huN magar, KHud ko tanha nahiN kehta
Gehra-ii jo di tu-ne mere zakhm-e-jigar ko
Mein itna samandar ko bhi gehra nahiN kehta
Karta huN Qateel apne gunahoN pe Bohot naaz
InsaN huN, meiN KHud ko Farishta nahiN kehta.
Translation
I address no one as either morning dew or as a blazing flame
She may be anyone; I don’t call her comparable to you
Fearing, you may cure my love pain
I call you a slayer, and not a messiah
I am always having close encounter with you in my thoughts
Though I am alone, I do not call myself lonely
The wounds you gave me are so deep
I do not call even an ocean as deep
Oh “Qateel”, I am very proud of my sins
I am human; I do not call myself an angel
Asghar Vasanwala can be reached at asgharfv@gmail.com